With Clive Dunn’s sad demise coming in the same week as another lacklustre display from City in Europe, it seems like the right time to call for cool heads in and around the City set-up.
Yes, not progressing beyond the group stages of the Champions League for the second season in a row will not be great, but is there any need to run around like Corporal Jones in virtually every episode of ‘Dad’s Army’? No, let’s not head to the lifeboats just yet.
Needless to say a couple of iffy results and performances have seen some members of the Fourth Estate cracking their knuckles as they prepare to write of doom and gloom over the Etihad. Particularly laughable was the Daily Star’s claim that James Milner and Roberto Mancini had been involved in yet another ‘bust-up’ just before kick-off at Upton Park.
Anyone with half a brain watching ESPN’s coverage knew that Milner was in the starting line-up until an injury did for him, hence his understandably volcanic reaction. Mancini consoled Milner before rejigging his options, he was not dropped – but such is the write-before-you-check methods of some of our nation’s scribes these days.
True, all is not well. It is simply not in Mancini’s nature to be ‘mates’ with the players, never has been, never will be. He may be asking too much of the squad with his changes of formation and style, and it looks like we’ll never know how the City team that steamrollered their way through the closing stages of last season would have dealt with the Euro challenge this season.
Injuries and tinkering to take new signings into account have given City a different look and feel so far – but unbeaten in the league by early November ain’t too shabby. Two very winnable games against Spurs and Villa should set the ship sailing in the right direction before a truly Massive Week at the end of November involving Real Madrid, Chelsea and, erm, Wigan!
So get the tins hats on, batten down the hatches, laugh when you’re reading about the latest ‘bust ups’ rather than getting angry and do like Bon Jovi say.
Keep the faith!
UPCOMING FIXTURES
all times East Manchester
Su 11 Nov 13h30 Spurs, The Etihad, PL
Sa 17 Nov 15h00 Aston Villa, The Etihad, PL
We 21 Nov 19h45 Real Madrid, The Etihad, CL
Su 25 Nov 16h00 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, PL
We 28 Nov 20h00 Wigan, DW Stadium, PL
Sa 01Dec 15h00 Everton, The Etihad, PL
Tu 04Dec 19h45 B Dortmund, Signal Iduna Park, CL
Su 09Dec 13h30 The rags, The Etihad, PL
Sa 15Dec 12h45 Newcastle, St James’ Park, PL
Sa 22Dec 15h00 Reading, The Etihad, PL
We 26Dec 15h00 Sunderland, Stadium of Light, PL
Sa 29Dec 15h00 Norwich, Carrow Road, PL
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